Dynamically distributed file system
First Claim
1. A computer network file system, comprising:
- a first file server operably connected to a network fabric;
a second file server operably connected to the network fabric;
first file system information loaded on said first file server; and
second file system information loaded on said second file server, said first file system information and said second file system information configured to allow a client computer operably connected to said network fabric to locate files stored by said first file server and files stored by said second file server without prior knowledge as to which file server stores said files.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamically distributed file system is described. The dynamically distributed file system operates on a computer network and includes a first file server that is operably connected to a network fabric and a second file server that is operably connected to the network fabric. The dynamically distributed file system further includes first file system information loaded on the first file server and second file system information loaded on the second file server. The first file system information and the second file system information are configured to allow a client computer that is operably connected to the network fabric to locate files stored by the first file server and files stored by the second file server without prior knowledge as to which file server stores the files.
349 Citations
75 Claims
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1. A computer network file system, comprising:
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a first file server operably connected to a network fabric;
a second file server operably connected to the network fabric;
first file system information loaded on said first file server; and
second file system information loaded on said second file server, said first file system information and said second file system information configured to allow a client computer operably connected to said network fabric to locate files stored by said first file server and files stored by said second file server without prior knowledge as to which file server stores said files. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for storing data in a computer network, comprising:
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loading first file system metadata on a first file server operably connected to a network fabric;
loading second file system metadata on a second file server connected to said network fabric, said first file system metadata and said second file system metadata comprising information to allow a client computer operably connected to said network fabric to locate a file stored by said first file server or stored by said second file server without prior knowledge as to which file server stores said file. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70)
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68. A computer network file system, comprising:
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a first file server operably connected to a network fabric;
a second file server operably connected to the network fabric;
means for locating files stored by said first file server and means for locating files stored by said second file server by traversing a directory structure that spans at least a said first file server and said second file server.
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71. A method for performing a file handle lookup on a computer network file system, comprising:
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sending a root-directory lookup request to a first file server;
receiving a first lookup response from said first file server, said first lookup response comprising a server id of a second file server;
sending a directory lookup request to said second file server; and
receiving a file handle from said second file server. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73. A method for performing file allocation on a computer network file system, comprising:
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receiving a file allocation request in a first file server, said first file server owning a parent directory that is to contain a new file, said file allocation request comprising a file handle of said parent directory;
determining a selected file server from a plurality of file servers;
sending a file allocation request from said first server to said selected server;
creating metadata entries for said new file in file system data managed by said selected file server;
generating a file handle for said new file;
sending said file handle to said first file server; and
creating a directory entry for said new file in said parent directory. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75)
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Specification